Exploring The Rules And Variations Of Casino Baccarat

Despite its reputation as an intimidating, elite game played only in private VIP salons, Baccarat is actually incredibly simple.


In fact, Baccarat is arguably the easiest table game in the entire casino, functioning almost exactly like a simple coin flip.

Understanding How Baccarat is Played

You simply place your chips on either the Banker section, the Player section, or the Tie section.


If a hand's total exceeds 9, the first digit is dropped; for example, a 7 and an 8 equals 15, which drops the 1 to become a 5.

The dealer distributes two cards to the Player hand and two cards to the Banker handDepending on the exact totals, a complex set of casino rules determines if a third card is drawn for either sideYou do not need to memorize the third-card drawing rules; the dealer executes them automatically
From Chemin de Fer to Punto Banco

While the core math remains the same, casinos offer several variations to speed up the game or cater to different budgets.


To compensate for the removed commission, EZ Baccarat makes a specific winning Banker hand (a three-card total of 7) a push instead of a win.

Variation NameKey DifferencePlayer InteractionBig Baccarat (Punto Banco)High limits, massive tablePlayers physically squeeze the cardsMini-BaccaratLow limits, half-sized tableFast-paced, dealer touches all cards

Simply sit down, consistently bet the Banker, and let the dealer handle the complex drawing rules.